Welcome to Datchet History

Welcome to this website which is being compiled by historian Janet Kennish and will be frequently updated. You’ll find archive photos, paintings and prints that have been amassed over many years, and historical maps which help to explain how things once were and how they have changed. If you can’t find the information you are looking for do use the Get in Touch form to ask questions – they can usually be answered!

At the core of this website are detailed street and house histories which trace some surviving buildings back to medieval times, but also describe the great Victorian expansion following the railway’s arrival. Very many people are met along the way, and if you find names here that you are researching do please ask if further information is available. For a complete chronological history of Datchet, from prehistoric times to the late twentieth century, you might like to read Datchet Past, available here.

And this is a view of Datchet 100 years after the photo above:

The top image is from the first known photograph of Datchet, mid-1870sThe cartoon is by Jon (William John Philpin Jones), 1960s, when he was a Datchet Parish Councillor.

New Datchet Village Society website

The new Datchet Village Society website and this Datchet History site complement each other and although there is some overlap of content we hope the different roles will become clear. Datchet History is written by Janet and sets out to provide information and resources, while the DVS site aims to interact with members and to encourage and report on group research. This is why the historical maps are here on Datchet History while the World War One project (including lives of the soldiers) will be found on Datchet Village Society.

The Society’s website is now up and running, with events, projects and news for members. See the latest research by the Datchet in World War One group or get help in discovering the history of your own house. You can book a place on our next visit, come to one of our talks or a local historical walk – but most importantly you can find out what the DVS does and how to join us!